NC State Engineering student receives Goldwater Scholarship

Christopher Cooper, a junior in the department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) at North Carolina State University, has been named a recipient of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for the 2015-16 year.

The scholarship program honors the late U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater and is designed to encourage the winning students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering. The one-and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Cooper is a native of Virginia Beach, Va. and is studying chemical engineering and economics. Additionally, he is a Park Scholar and Benjamin Franklin Scholar, a participant in the University Scholars Programs, an organizer of the annual Krispy Kreme Challenge fundraiser for UNC Children’s Hospital and a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Currently, Cooper is conducting research on soft electronic devices using liquid metal in Dr. Michael Dickey’s lab in CBE. He started this research in August 2014, the beginning of his sophomore year. For the first year, he worked on creating soft circuit boards that allow users to “draw” circuits with a pen by compressing liquid metal nanoparticles when they apply pressure. During his junior year, he injected liquid metal into elastomeric polymer fibers to create soft and stretchable sensors. He plans to continue to work with Dickey throughout his senior year before attending graduate school in chemical engineering.

Cooper plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and wants to become a professor at a top ranked university, where he will continue researching soft electronics and have the opportunity to share his knowledge with colleagues, students, and the greater community.

Vishwas Rao, a junior majoring in chemistry and biochemistry and a Park Scholar and University Honors participant at NC State, was also named a recipient of the scholarship for 2015-16. The selection of Cooper and Rao brings the total number of Goldwater Scholars from NC State to 49.

An honorable mention for the scholarship went to Gautam Nagataj, a sophomore majoring in physics and mathematics at NC State.